Belt buckle



Nov. 15, 1966 E. J. PRlsBE 3,285,700

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Nov. 15, 1966 E. J. PRlsBE 3,285,700

BELT BUCKLE Filed July 1.5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figui fda/3a 32 204 /Pa \|I 33 V12 Wi: sa

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United States Patent iiice 3,285,750@ Patented Nov. 15, 1966 3,285,700 BELT BUCKLE Ernest I. Irisbe, Hayward, Calif., assiguor to United-Carr Incorporated, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 13, 1965, Ser. No. 471,535 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-230) This inventi-on relates to belt buckles such as those utilized to releasably secure the ends of web safety belts used on motor vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide a strong, durable, positively locking buckle.

A further object is to provide a buckle in which the locking mechanism is adapted to automatically operate upon insertion of the tongue member into the buckle.

A still further object is to provide a buckle having a low profile to reduce the probability of accidental un` locking, and smooth, at outer surfaces to reduce the likelihood of injury to the person or clothing of the operator or the upholstery of the motor vehicle.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a buckle having a minimum number of component parts for ease of fabrication 4and assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a buckle which will withstand the instantaneous application of considerable tension to a belt, as in the case rof the occupant of a vehicle being thrown forward in a collision, without becoming unlocked.

Other objects and advantages of the novel buckle will become evident from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with a viewing of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan viewof the invention showing a belt attached thereto and the cover partially broken away;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the buckle as seen from the left of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing .a tongue attached to a second belt section locked in the buckle;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 depicting the cover raised and the tongue partially retracted;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view depicting another version of the buckle;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the latch member shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the latch member as viewed from the right of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the latch member shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The buckle includes a body portion 1 having a generally ilat base portion 2, opposed upwardly-extending sides 3, a narrow slot 4 adjacent one end of the base 2 for receiving Ia web belt and a shallow well 5 located closer to the opposite end of the base for receiving the hook of a latch member. A portion 6 of each of the sides 3 is diverted inwardly and these portions 6 cooperate with the base 2 to provide a channel 7 for sliding engagement of a tongue member with the buckle. The inwardly-diverted portions 6 are also each provided with an opening 8 to receive a rod and the upper end edges 9 of the side portions 6 are arced to provide a pivotal support for a cover. The upwardly-extending slides 3 are highest at the end of the inwardly-diverted portions 6 and thereafter taper downwardly to their opposite ends.

The latch member 10 includes a back portion 11, a hook 12 extending forwardly and downwardly from said back portion, and a pair of spaced slide anges 13 extending downwardly and rearwardly rof said back portion. Each of the rearwardly-extending side anges 13 is provided with a rod receiving aperture 14 and the rearmost end of each flange 13 is notched to provide a pair of latch dogs 15. The lower edge 16 of each ilange 13 extends toward the base 2 at an acute angle thereto and said edges act as camming surfaces as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The latch 10 is Iconnected to the inwardly-diverted side portions 6 by a iixed rod 17. The rod is seated in a press-lit relationship in each of the apertures 8 in the side portions 6 and extends through each of the apertures 14 in the ilanges 13 of the latch. One end 18 of the rod is knurled to lock the rod and prevent any rotation thereof with respect to the body of the buckle.

A torsion spring 19 is wound on the rod 17 adjacent its knurled end 18. One end of the spring is connected to a side portion 6 of the body 1 and the other end overlies a portion of the latch 10. The spring 19 is wound so as to bias the latch 10 in a downward direction, whereby the hook 12 extends into the shallow well 5 in the base 2 and the camming edges 16 are disposed at an acute angle with respect to the base.

The cover 20 is of one-piece construction and includes a top 21, a pair of downwardly-extending sides 22, a downwardly-curved rear ange 23, a forwardly-extending, slightly arcuate handle 24, and an integral, .bifurcated spring clip 25 extending from the edge of the rear flange 23 in generally spaced, parallel relationship to the top 21.

The assembly yof the cover 20 to the remainder of the knuckle is accomplished by snapping the spring clip 25 under the rod 17 between the rearwardly-extending flanges 13 of the latch 10. In addition to securing the cover the spring clip fixes the position of the latch 10 and prevents any lateral movement of the latter along the rod 17. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the edge of the rear flange 23 rests on the latch dogs 15 and portions of the rear flange 23 rest on the upper edges 9 of the inwardly-diverted sides 6 which act as a fulcrum for pivotal movement of the cover. The downward spring bias on the latch 10 is transmitted through the latch dogs 15 to the flange 23 to retain the cover 20 in the down or closed position shown in FIG. 3.

The second section of the belt is `connected to a at tongue 26 through a narrow slot 27 adjacent one end of said tongue; and the tongue is further provided with a larger, generally rectangular, latch-receiving aperture 28 adjacent its free leading end.

From the foregoing detailed description the loperation of the invention becomes readily apparent. With the respective parts positioned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the tongue is inserted into the channel 7 in the rear of the buckle. As the leading edge of the tongue contacts the latch camming edges 16, the latch 10 is pivoted upwardly about the rod 17, independently of the cover, until the tongue is inserted to the point where the aperture 28 registers with the hook 12, whereupon the latch 10 is spring-driven downwardly through the aperture 28 into the position shown in FIG. 3 an-d the tongue is locked in the buckle. Since the Width of the aperture 28 is only slightly greater than the outside dimension across the flanges 13 and the lower portions of the same anges also extend into the aperture, the hook 12 presents a substantial bearing surface for the tongue when tension is exerted on the belt sections, and anges 13 resist lateral cantin-g of the tongue. Further, the tongue cannot be rocked :upwardly due to the bearing of the inwardlydiverted side portions 6 on its -upper surface.

The uncoupling of the tongue and buckle is accomplished 4by gripping the handle 24 and rotating the cover latch dogs 15.

tongue aperture 28 the tongue may be readily retracted from the buckle. Thereafter, upon release of the cover the spring returns the latch and cover to the closed or normal position.

FIGS. l, 2, and 3 quite clearly illustrate the improvement in the art contributed by the invention in terms of compactness and safety features. The use of the shallow well 5 as opposed to an opening in the base portion and the positioning of the outer side anges 22 of the cover results in a substantial encapsulation of the inner component parts of the buckle. Thus the danger of catching and tearing ones clothing or the upholstery of a vehicle on bolts, pins, spring ends, etc., projecting outwardly of the buckle proper is eliminated. Further, the buckle presents a relatively low silhouette, thus reducing the possibility of a vehicle operator or passenger accidentally releasing the tong-ue. This feature is particularly significant at the time of collision or rapid braking of a vehicle when theV occupants are often violently tossed about.

Since the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 4 has been designed primarily for use with automatic seat belt adjusting and retracting mechanisms, such as that disclosed by B. F. Monroe, Patent No. 3,100,669, there has been no showing of any additional means for adjusting the belt section as depicted in the drawings.

FIGS. 5-8 disclose another version of the buckle wherein a modified latch member is employed and a means for manually adjusting one of the seat belt sections is provided as an inherent part of the buckle.

The latch member a differs from the previously described latch 10 in that the hook portion 12a extends outwardly and upwardly from a lower cross member 27 rather than an upper cross member or back portion 11. Further, the side tianges 13a are provided with a cutout 28 and the lower portion of the flanges between the cutout and the hook 12a are curved inwardly toward each other to join the cross member 27.

The lhook 12a includes a lower portion 29 which is of less Width than the distance between the flanges 13a and is curved upwardly and rearwardly toward the flanges; and an upper portion 30 which extends across the flanges 13a and abuts the leading upper edge of each of them. Otherwise, the latch 10a is connected to the buckle and is operable in exactly the same manner as the previously described latch 10. In this regard one should observe that the lower edges of the flanges 13a to the left of the cutout 28 are disposed below the curved, lower edges of the flanges to the right of the cutout to -obviate the possibility of the leading edge of the tongue 26 lbecoming lodged in the cut-out as the tongue is inserted into the buckle.

The buckle shown in FIG. 5, equipped with latch member 10a, provides for easy tongue insertion and an easy opening of the buckle when the .belt sections are in tension in that the tongue member engages the lower curved portion of the hook 12a during insertion and retracting of the tongue. However, the most important improvement provided by the latch 10a is the superior strength imparted to the buckle and tongue connection. Since the hook 12a is braced by the side anges 13a of the latch, substantial pull or load on the belts is resiste-d by the entire latch structure 10a; whereas in the buckle shown in shown in FIGS. 1-4 the forces generated by tension on the belts are generally resisted only by the free unsupported hook 12.

The buckle of FIG. 5 is adapted for manual adjustment of the belt section attached thereto by providing an opening 31 in the base 2a, passing the `free end of the belt section through the opening 31 and thereafter looping it over a knurled pin 32 and back through the aperture 31 along the top of the belt section. The knurled pin 32 is slidably supported in a pair of oval slots 33 located in the sides 3a of the body portion 1a.

This manual adjustment feature and its mode of operation will be well understood by those skilled in the art of adjustable Seat belt buckles.

It is to be understood that what has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration represents only two embodiments of the invention, and it is anticipated that further changes and modications might be incorporated therein without departing from the scope of the invention as dened 4by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an assembly of the type utilized to releasably connect separate sections of a belt wherein an apertured tongue member is attached to one belt section and a buckle to Ithe other belt section,

a buckle comprising (a) a body portion, said body portion including a base portion having a shallow latch-receiving Well fonmed therein and spaced, upwardly-extending sides, portions of which overlie said base portion and co-operate therewith to provide a channel for receipt of the tongue member in said body portion, the upper ed-ges of said Side lportions being arced lto provide a pivotal support for a cover member;

(b) a rod, xed to and extending between the sid-e portions of said body in spaced parallel relation t-o said base;

(c) `a latch pivotally connected to said rod, said latch including a plurality of vertically-extending, spaced side anges connected by a cross member, and a hook portion extending forwardly from said cross member in the direction of said side flanges, portions of said flanges being notched t-o provide a plurality of latch dogs and the edges of said flanges 'being contoured to act as cammin-g surfaces for independent pivotal movement of said latch responsive to insertion ofthe ton-gue member into said cha-nnel;

(d) means normally urging said latch member toward said base whereby said hook is disposed in the shallow well in said ibase portion to lock the tongue member in said buckle; and

(e) a cover member connected to said body portion in spaced relation to said base, said cover member including a top portion, an arced iiange pivotally supported by `the arced edges of the side portions of said body member, said flange extending tow-ard sai-d base and having portions of an edge thereof engaging said latch dogs, and an integral spring clip in snapped enga-ge- .rnent with'said rod to secure said cover to said body portion;

whereby pivotal movement of said cover away from said body portion causes a corresponding pivotal movement of said latch away from said base to permit retraction of the tongue mem-ber from said buckle.

2. A buckle according to claim 1 wherein said spring v clip is 'bifurcated and is in snapped engagement with portions of said rod located between the flanges of said latch to prevent lateral movement of said latch with respect to said rod.

3. A buckle according to claim 1 wherein said cover is provided with downwardly-extending sides which overlie the sides of said body portion in spaced relationship thereto.

4. A buckle according to claim 1 wherein said means urging said latch towards said base portion is a torsion spring Wound on said rod, having one end thereof connected to said body portion and another end overlying a portion of said latch.

5. In an assembly of the type utilized to releasably connect separate sections of `a belt wherein an apertured tongue member is attached to one belt section and a buckle to the other belt section,

a buckle comprising,

(a) a body portion, said body portion including a base portion having a shallow latch-receiving well formed therein and spaced upwardly-extending sides, portions of which overlie said base portion and oo-operate therewith to provide a channel for receipt of the tongue member in said body portion, the upper edges of said side portions being arced t-o provide a pivotal support for a cover member;

(b) a rod xed to and extending between the side portions of said body in spaced parallel relation to said base;

(c) a latch pivotally connected to said rod, said latch including a back portion, a hook extending forwardly and downwardly from said back portion and a pair of spaced anges extending downwardly and rearwardly .of said back portion, portions of said flan-ges being notched to provide a pair of latch dogs and the edges of said flanges being contoured to act as camming surfaces for independent pivotal movement of said latch responsive to insertion of the tongue member into said channel;

(d) means normally urging said latch member toward said base where'by said hook is disposed in the shallow well in said base portion to lock the tongue member in said buckle; and

(e) a cover member connected to said -body .por-

tion in spaced relation to said base, said cover member including a top portion, an arced flange pivotally supported b-y the :arced edges of the side portions of said body member, said ilange extending toward said base and having portions of an edge thereof engaging said latch dogs, and an integral spring clip in snapped engagement with said rod to secure said cover to said body portion;

whereby pivotal movement of said cover away from said body portion causes a corresponding pivotal movement of said latch away from said base to permit retraction of the tongue member from said buckle.

6. In assembly of the type utilized to releasably con- 40 neet separate sections of a belt wherein an apertured tongue mernber is attached to one belt section and a buckle to the other belt section,

a buckle comprising (a) a body portion, said body portion including a base portion adapted to receive portions of a latch member and spaced, upwardly-extending sides co-operating with said base to provide a channel for receipt of a tongue member in said body portion, portions of said sides being arced to provide a pivotal support for a cover member;

(b) a rod Iixed to and extending between the sides of said portion in spaced relation to said base;

(c) a latch pivotally connected to said rod, said latch includin-g spaced side flanges connected by a cross member and a hook, portions of said hook extending forwardly of said cross member and other portions of said hook extending upwardly of said cross member and terminating in a free end, portions of said free end extending across said anges whereby said hook is Ibraced by said flanges when the buckle is used under load, said latch member being adapted for independent pivotal movement away from said base responsive to insertion of the tongue member into said channel;

(d) means normally urging said latch member towards said ibase whereby a portion of said hook is positioned to lock the tongue member in said body portion; and

(e) a cover member connected to said body portion in spaced relation to said base, said cover member including a top portion and an arced ilange pivotally supported by the arced portions of the sides of said body, said flange extending towards said base so as to enga-ge the side flanges of said latch member, whereby pivotal movement of said cover away from said body portion causes a corresponding pivotal movement of said latch away from said base to permit retraction of the tongue member from the buckle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,165,805 1/1965 Lower. 3,181,221 5/1965 Kulwin. 3,246,377 4/1966 Brown.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ASSEMBLY OF THE TYPE UTILIZED TO RELEASABLY CONNECT SEPARATE SECTIONS OF A BELT WHEREIN AN APERTURED TONGUE MEMBER IS ATTACHED TO ONE BELT SECTION AND A BUCKLE TO THE OTHER BELT SECTION, A BUCKLE COMPRISING (A) A BODY PORTION, SAID BODY PORTION INCLUDING A BASE PORTION HAVING A SHALLOW LATCH-RECEIVING WELL FORMED THEREIN AND SPACED, UPWARDLY-EXTENDING SIDES, PORTIONS OF WHICH OVERLIE SAID BASE PORTION AND CO-OPERATE THEREWITH TO PROVIDE A CHANNEL FOR RECEIPT OF THE TONGUE MEMBER IN SAID BODY PORTION, THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS BEING ARCED TO PROVIDE A PIVOTAL SUPPORT FOR A COVER MEMBER; (B) A ROD, FIXED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BODY IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID BASE; (C) A LATCH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ROD, SAID LATCH INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY-EXTENDING, SPACED SIDE FLANGES CONNECTED BY A CROSS MEMBER, AND A HOOK PORTION EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID CROSS MEMBER IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID SIDE FLANGES, PORTIONS OF SAID FLANGES BEING NOTCHED TO PROVIDE A PLURALITY OF LATCH DOGS AND THE EDGES OF SAID FLANGES BEING CONTOURED TO ACT AS CAMMING SURFACES FOR INDEPENDENT PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH RESPONSIVE TO INSERTION OF THE TONGUE MEMBER INTO SAID CHANNEL; (D) MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID LATCH MEMBER TOWARD SAID BASE WHEREBY SAID HOOK IS DISPOSED IN THE SHALLOW WELL IN SAID BASE PORTION TO LOCK THE TONGUE MEMBER IN SAID BUCKLE; AND (E) A COVER MEMBER CONNECTED TO SAID BODY PORTION IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID BASE, SAID COVER MEMBER INCLUDING A TOP PORTION, AN ARCED FLANGE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED BY THE ARCED EDGES OF THE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID FLANGE EXTENDING TOWARD SAID BASE AND HAVING PORTIONS OF AN EDGE THEREOF ENGAGING SAID LATCH DOGS, AND AN INTEGRAL SPRING CLIP IN SNAPPED ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ROD TO SECURE SAID COVER TO SAID BODY PORTION; WHEREBY PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER AWAY FROM SAID BODY PORTION CAUSES A CORRESPONDING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH AWAY FROM SAID BASE TO PERMIT RETRACTION OF THE TONGUE MEMBER FROM SAID BUCLKE. 